Zia criticises Hasina as she is being sworn in as PM

Dhaka, Jan 7 (IANS) Former Bangladesh prime minister Khaleda Zia launched a broadside against her political rival and now prime minister Sheikh Hasina even as the swearing-in ceremony was being conducted, accusing her of “killing, snatching and criminal activities”.Upset at the post-poll violence that left one dead and several injured across the country, Zia visited the family of one of those allegedly attacked in the national capital Tuesday evening while the the swearing-in ceremony was being conducted in Bangabhavan, the presidential palace.

Unidentified assailants had shot dead Nazrul Islam at around 3.30 p.m., just three hours before the Bangabhavan ceremony, The Daily Star newspaper reported.

“You’re observing what is happening across the country. Does it mean change? Do people want it?” Khaleda said after visiting the family members of Nazrul Islam, a leader of Jatiyatabadi Swechchhasebak Dal, the volunteer corps of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) who was killed Monday in the city’s Bijoynagar area.

Zia, who stayed away from Hasina’s oath taking ceremony, demanded immediate arrest of those involved in the killing.

The five lawmakers-elect who represented her at the ceremony complained of violence allegedly by workers of Hasina’s Awami League, media reports said Wednesday.

Salahuddin Qader Chowdhury, who led a five member team of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) to the ceremony, sarcastically said that they had come to “watch” how Hasina was going to affect her “charter of change”, her poll manifesto.

BNP and its allies have not yet taken oath as members of the ninth parliament.